Currys and PC World to sell Surface

Microsoft is expanding its retail reach in the UK, with Currys and PC World moving ahead and now selling its tablet PC (with optional detachable keyboard) the Surface RT.

The Surface RT, as the name suggests, runs Windows RT, the cut-down version of Microsoft’s desktop OS which is designed to run on ARM-powered devices (as opposed to x86 chips).

Initially, Microsoft was selling the Surface device through its own retail channels – online, and in its US retail outlets. However, over in the States the Redmond-based company soon expanded to other retailers (such as Best Buy), and the same thing is now happening in the UK.

John Lewis began to carry the Surface not long ago, and not it’s the turn of PC World and Currys to get on board the Microsoft tablet train – though you won’t find the Surface in their shops yet. You’ll be able to order it online for direct delivery to your house, or have one delivered to a local store for pick-up if you prefer.

However, it will be available in some PC World and Currys stores soon, from this Friday according to C-net, and more outlets in the future.

Presumably this is an effort to help kick Surface sales up a gear.

The Surface Pro, the device’s bigger brother, should be out in the UK before too long – and that lets you run full x86 applications (such as the full version of Office, for example). The trade-off is that it burns through battery life quicker, and costs a lot more (though the UK price still hasn’t even been confirmed).

The Surface RT is currently on sale at PCW/Currys for the same price Microsoft sells it – £480 for the 32GB tablet plus Touch Cover.